scubacruiserx2

A day at sea Calm seas and lunch at the Retreat Must have been a break in the supply chain - no guacamole And finally the announcement that we had been waiting to hear from the Captain - masks are optional for the crew

A couple of outtakes of Manzanillo

We went to the 9 PM show to see the Guitar player Paolo Schianchi It was mostly improvised but we recognized a couple of songs

We have been here before ( the last time we saw a breaching whale , but no such luck this time ) so we knew what we wanted to see . The lunch place - about a miles walk and all of the fishing boats Fresh food at a good price and a few of the fishermen and the birds following them It was kind of funny that they didn't have guacamole or any cabs . But our server took us downstairs and called us a Tuk Tuk for a dollar . We gave him 5 . Dinner was at the Canaletto but I ran outside a couple of times to gaze at the sunset We didn't care for the tomatoes in the crab risotto but they said that it was the only way that it was made We did discover a couple of wines that we like

Wednesday, October 12 th was our first stop in Mexico - Manzanillo

A few parting shots of Puerto Vallarta . As the ships moved there was good fishing for the birds . These 2 were fighting over a fish The Diamond Princess stayed anchored off shore all day Its always good to read the labels before indulging

A couple of video clips of the others leaving PV .

We were about an hour from the port and so we requested a lunch closer to the ship and we were off . When we entered the port's gate we we not sure if we were going to eat on the ship but there was a place nearby . Gina and Pat . Gina did a great job !

The next stop was Sayulita an hour away from PV . It has a laid back beach , and hippie vibe . But where we were let out at plaza was very busy and there was no place to park so we walked around for about an hour . While I love surfing these were not waves that I would rent a board and get wet for The beach was pretty but a little busy for our taste

It's a bit of a walk thru the cruise port to be able to meet our guide Gina The last time that we were here Gina gave us a comprehensive tour of PV and this time we wanted something a little different . This whale was just outside of the port . We were headed North this time to the beach and a Chocolate factory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_chocolate We were told by the time line that Chocolate originated in South America before working it's way North We were told that pollinization was accomplished by stinging bugs like mosquitos The guide opened a fresh Cacao pod to taste It is then dried for about 30 days Cute pig near the drying rack It was then hand rolled ( hard work ) The final product for sale Benefits of Dark Chocolate https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3

We were the first ship in at Puerto Vallarta so we got to see the parade of ships

Maybe because you look so young that he was checking to see if you were old enough to drink . 😉

The ship that was in port was Princess newest ship . We did a cruise and review on the Enchanted , her sister found here :

More Cabo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabo_San_Lucas

We had to make a medical stop at Cabo San Lucas El Arco

Monday was our 2nd day at sea and we had an old friend for breakfast And I spotted grits on the menu which I haven't had in a while . A little butter and cheese and you have a southern staple from our childhood and leaner days in the past One thing that I had never done was to have a haircut on a cruise but I was seated next to some suspicious looking characters While we were having lunch at the Retreat we took a slight detour

And to complete our entering into Mexican waters we took a nice siesta . Dinner was at the Tamarind again a fitting ending to a nice day at sea . We named this little guy Cannon after the Towel maker and not the Camera

A bonus shot of the San Diego sail away . The Del Coronado Hotel as the sun set at our back . Our favorite guy at the Retreat in Alaska was Christopher who had been promoted to beverage runner ( I guess because they some or all of the tips ) and we wanted to see him . He was working on the aft pool deck where we don't usually go when it's busy . But it was a nice sunny day at sea and I wanted a drink to go with our room service lunch . We seated ourselves where he was working and ordered a drink . It was sure good to see him and at this point masks were optional for the crew . He was still wearing it except for the photo . He was busy and we had ordered room service for the ultimate balcony lunch It was all very good and guess who had what Sailing toward Puerto Vallarta

Demographically things had changed a lot . We had a large group of handicapped people that got on in Vancouver and off in San Diego . One of our servers in the Tamarind said that 65 workers ( perhaps 65 % ) , my wife forgot which , were new and had gotten on in San Francisco . Oakridger had mentioned that 400 people had left in San Diego and 800 passengers had gotten on bringing our total to 1800 - 300 short of our capacity . We were beginning to feel the pinch on changeover day after boarding . An already crowded elevator was trying to pack some new passengers in with their luggage . They pointed to the sign and said 18 people . The elevator passengers moaned . I muttered before Covid and without luggage . They chose to wait . Anyhow our Cruise Critic meeting was near the Crow's Nest the next morning and it was pretty full when we got there . We ate lunch at the Retreat and spied this on the table . We asked if we could take it to our room and they said yes .

Yes it is . Our daughter who lives near us in South Florida want to be married near Bergen this Summer .

Pinnacle dinner continued

Thank you . My MIL grew up in Geneva , upstate NY .

Thank you . We had 3 unscheduled bonus sail in and out due to medical and or weather related . Cabo for a medical and Freeport for a medical . The 3rd was in Colón , Panama for a cruise ship tour group that got stranded on their tour .

Dinner was in the Pinnacle

Sailing away from San Diego This fishing boat with the birds following reminds me of the old Fleetwood Mac song Mission Bell USS Carl Vinson Point Loma and out to sea